Update and Resources

February 27, 2026

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it,

but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.

So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

~ John 3:8

Second Sunday in Lent Worship at 10:00 AM

Join us for worship this second Sunday in Lent. You can always worship online via our live stream or anytime on our Kent UCC Video page. Click here to print the bulletin for an order of worship for those worshiping online.

So Many Ways to Give!

THANK YOU, Church Family! On February 15, you lovingly filled 85 Have-a-Heart bags, growing our number over last year! Then, the next day, people of all ages from preschoolers on up joined in the Narthex to sort and repack the bags for ease of delivery to Kent Social Services. We filled four cars and the staff was so happy to receive them. THANK YOU to all who gave in whatever way they could! Looking ahead…our next opportunity to warm the hearts of others is to prepare Easter Baskets for those in need at Kent Social Services. After March 2, I will have the number of baskets and due date from our fearless KSS leader, Ms. Seward; I thought you might be wondering if we will be repeating this sweet opportunity from last year So, YES, families are welcome to put together their own complete baskets for children or to donate loose items which we will take over. Specifics will go out next week. Thanks in advance! Megan Snyder

A Message from our Deacons

Please find a letter from our Deacons here. If you would prefer a printed copy of this letter and the attached form, please let our church office know and we will be happy to send you one. We want to ensure that everyone is being supported and cared for in our Kent UCC faith community.

Parking

Due to the construction, questions have been raised regarding parking at the church and whether we have enough spaces for Sunday worship and other events. We want to remind everyone that parking is free on the KSU campus on the weekends. If you are unable to find a spot, please park across from the Newman Center in the KSU lot (Performing Arts Center lot, or Admin Building lot) off Horning Rd. You can also now park in the front half-circle lot by driving around the barriers.

Nora Neus at Kent UCC April 12

Join Emmy-nominated journalist and author of 24 Hours at the Capitol: An Oral History of the January 6 Insurrection, Nora Neus, in conversation about her new book, the rise of white supremacy in the US, and people of faith’s place in all of it. Her talk will be in the chapel following worship. Social Justice Ministry will serve light refreshments.  



Nora’s book can be pre-ordered from Books A Go Go in Ravenna using the QR code. Select “store pickup,” and you can either pick up the book in advance or at her talk. She’ll sign books after the talk.  

Creation Justice Ministry

The Star Fundraising Campaign received $3,160 to be contributed to our Sustainability Fund. The funds are to be used in alternative and sustainability energy practices within the church and grounds. In recognition and gratitude for being a part of God’s beautiful world we are developing a church landscaping plan that celebrates stewardship of our natural world. Much will have to wait for the road work to be finished. But even now we can work at removing invasive plants such as our Burning Bush and replacing it with native flowers. The issue with invasive plants is that the digestive systems of insect larva cannot accommodate the foliage of the plants and then our bird populations become decimated because of a lack the larva for food. We are seeking to pursue how to work with the intricate, connected, beautiful world that we are a part of.

Flower Ministry

Flowers are a beautiful gift of God. You are invited to offer flowers for an upcoming worship service. They are a wonderful way to mark an important or special occasion in your life while decorating the sanctuary or chapel for worship. There is a sign-up chart hanging in the narthex for you to choose a date to offer flowers. 

You are welcome to bring in your own flower arrangement (already in a vase) before Sunday morning worship and our worship assistant will place them in the chancel, or you can order them from Oregon Corners Florist in Stow if you’d like them delivered directly to the church. Your dedication message will be printed in the worship bulletin and announced on Sunday mornings. After worship, you can choose to take your flowers with you or our deacons can also deliver them to someone who may just need a bit of color and cheer. Be a part of our Kent UCC flower ministry! 

Host Coffee Hour

We need one or two volunteers each week to simply brew a pot of coffee or two, prepare some pitchers of cold water and perhaps bring a few snacks. Members of Fellowship are happy to coach you through it. Sign up here!

Kent Social Services

Volunteers Needed!

Our primary local partner, Kent Social Services, helps us provide food security to our neighbors. We are seeking volunteers on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month from 10am -1pm to help serve lunch. Sign up here to indicate when you can help. Thank you so much for your willingness to work in our community, share God’s love, and help those in need.

Sign Up to Greet

Please sign up to be a Kent UCC Greeter. This is an easy but IMPORTANT job! Just come to church before the service at 9:35am, stand by the lower doors and welcome and greet people as they come in! It is so imperative to have a friendly face to welcome everyone as they come in to church. You are coming to church anyway so just come a little early and spread our Kent UCC extravagant hospitality to all who enter our doors. Click here to access the greeter sign up sheet! If you have any questions please contact Gayle Wall. 

This Week’s Sacred Text

John 3:1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God."

Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above."

Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?"

Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?"

Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”